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Patient Stories

Here are some stories of grateful Cardiovascular Medicine patients and their families that we hope will encourage and inspire others.

VLADIMIR KRUPITSKY: QUICK RECOVERY
When Vladimir Krupitsky came into Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center with chest pains four years ago, it was quickly determined that he had a serious coronary artery blockage that had to be dealt with right away. "He had concerning, unstable symptoms and a markedly abnormal EKG," said Dr. Eli Gelfand, a cardiologist who heads up the Russian Cardiovascular Clinic at BIDMC's CardioVascular Institute. Read More >>

VLADIMIR KRUPITSKY: QUICK RECOVERY

Vladimir Krupitzky speaks with a Medicaid customer at work almost four years after his stent.

When Vladimir Krupitsky came into Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center with chest pains four years ago, it was quickly determined that he had a serious coronary artery blockage that had to be dealt with right away.

"He had concerning, unstable symptoms and a markedly abnormal EKG," said Dr. Eli Gelfand, a cardiologist who heads up the Russian Cardiovascular Clinic at BIDMC's CardioVascular Institute. Read More >>

THERESA NESSRALLA: REVERSING HEART FAILURE
Theresa Nessralla thought she merely had the flu. "I had a heavy chest and a dry cough," said the 59-year-old South Shore woman who worked in customer service at the time, in the winter of 2006. "I just got weaker and weaker," she said. "Breathing became tough." After several weeks, she ended up at the emergency room at a local hospital. "First, they told me I had pneumonia," she said. The next day, however, she received a visit from a cardiologist. "He said my heart was weak," she said. "They were going to run some tests and watch me." Ultimately, Nessralla was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, a condition where the heart can't pump enough blood to meet the body's requirements. Read More >>

THERESA NESSRALLA: REVERSING HEART FAILURE

Theresa Nessralla thought she merely had the flu. "I had a heavy chest and a dry cough," said the 59-year-old South Shore woman who worked in customer service at the time, in the winter of 2006. "I just got weaker and weaker," she said. "Breathing became tough." After several weeks, she ended up at the emergency room at a local hospital. "First, they told me I had pneumonia," she said. The next day, however, she received a visit from a cardiologist. "He said my heart was weak," she said. "They were going to run some tests and watch me."

Ultimately, Nessralla was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, a condition where the heart can't pump enough blood to meet the body's requirements. Read More >>

BRUCE MACDONALD: ACTIVE CYCLIST
Avid cyclist Bruce MacDonald had a stroke. But that wasn't his biggest problem. The irregular heartbeat condition that caused his stroke was still not under control. Could treatment at BIDMC prevent another stroke and get Bruce back to his active lifestyle? As an avid cyclist, Bruce has conquered bike races including the 755 mile-long Paris Brest Paris race… that's right, 755 miles! Being in such great shape, no one would have expected that Bruce would soon face a major health scare. Read More and Watch Video >>

BRUCE MACDONALD: ACTIVE CYCLIST

Avid cyclist Bruce MacDonald had a stroke. But that wasn't his biggest problem. The irregular heartbeat condition that caused his stroke was still not under control. Could treatment at BIDMC prevent another stroke and get Bruce back to his active lifestyle? As an avid cyclist, Bruce has conquered bike races including the 755 mile-long Paris Brest Paris race… that's right, 755 miles! Being in such great shape, no one would have expected that Bruce would soon face a major health scare.
Read More and Watch Video >>

MOSTAFA SALEM: HUMMINGBIRD GARDNER
Mostafa Salem of Framingham had felt his heart flip-flopping in his chest from time to time. A business analyst then in his 60s, he chalked the uncomfortable, quivering sensation up to stress and never suspected a medical condition. On a vacation trip to London in 2005, Mr. Salem spent two hours in the sun on a double-decker sightseeing bus, sweltering in 96-degree heat. Back in his hotel room, he rose from lying on the bed to turn on the television, fainted and hit the floor. Although his wife reported that he was unconscious for less than a minute, she motivated him to finally connect the dots. Read More >>

MOSTAFA SALEM: HUMMINGBIRD GARDNER

Mostafa Salem of Framingham had felt his heart flip-flopping in his chest from time to time. A business analyst then in his 60s, he chalked the uncomfortable, quivering sensation up to stress and never suspected a medical condition. On a vacation trip to London in 2005, Mr. Salem spent two hours in the sun on a double-decker sightseeing bus, sweltering in 96-degree heat. Back in his hotel room, he rose from lying on the bed to turn on the television, fainted and hit the floor. Although his wife reported that he was unconscious for less than a minute, she motivated him to finally connect the dots. Read More >>

TAM VAN TRAN: MIRACULOUS RECOVERY
Almost losing your life can change your life in miraculous and unexpected ways. Just ask Tam Van Tran. For Mr. Tran, a hard-driving and successful 57-year-old Vietnamese émigré, the transformative moment came at 1 a.m. the morning of Friday, February 8, 2008. Read More >>

Contact Information

Cardiovascular Medicine
Division of the CardioVascular Institute
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
330 Brookline Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
617-667-8800

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